Canadian Blood Services asks Maritimers to give the gift of life with a donation over the holidays

Canadian Blood Services chats about the increased need for blood and plasma donors over the holidays.

Canadian Blood Services is asking people to give the gift of life with a blood or plasma donation this holiday season.

Krysta Hanakowski, a community development manager with Canadian Blood Services, says donations are needed now more than ever.

“Hospitals are using more blood and blood products now than they ever have,” Hanakowski says. “We aren’t seeing the same amount of people come out to help meet that increased need.”

Donations tend to slow down over the holidays, Hanakowski says, but operations stay open most of the season. The only day blood services close outside normal operating hours is Christmas Day. She says donors should check their local centre for hours.

“We’re open Boxing Day. We’re open New Year’s Day. We’re open Christmas Eve and we need people to come out every day,” Hanakowski says.

Canadians who would like to give blood for Christmas must be 17 years old, in good general health and provide a list of medications and travel outside Canada.

“Outside of that, it’s a great tradition to start with family,” Hanakowski says. “A great thing to do on those long days off. Just give us an hour of your time.”

Hanakowski says blood services has a lot of openings.

“Way too many,” she says. “It’s an important time to come out and donate.”

Blood services has dedicated plasma donors for patients in hospital and to make some medications, but there is need for more throughout the Maritimes, so Hanakowski says people should watch for cancellations.

“Plasma is the protein-rich liquid part of blood (that) helps other blood components circulate,” she says. “It also supports our immune system.”

Hanakowski said blood donations get separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma.

“When you make a blood donation, you’ve probably heard that you help save three lives.”

Blood has a shelf life of 31 days, so Hanakowski says the need for more never dries up, which is why they stay open almost every day through December.

Men can give blood every 56 days and women can give every 84 days, but Hanakowski says blood services is happy to see people a few times or even once a year.

“It’s all of our responsibility to make sure that the hospitals are well stocked with life-saving products,” she says.